Collin Chandler delivered plenty of unforgettable moments for the Wildcats, particularly during the most recent season. His clutch three-pointer to beat Tennessee at Rupp Arena coming just three weeks after he set up Otega Oweh’s game-winning shot in Knoxville sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
However, as impressive as Chandler was as a shooter, his overall impact had a clear limit. When he wasn’t consistently draining threes which did happen fairly often his contributions elsewhere were inconsistent. That signaled to me a need for an upgrade, and Kentucky found one in Milan Momcilovic.
When I watch Momcilovic, I can’t help but see a slightly more polished version of Koby Brea. Hear me out, BBN.
Brea was outstanding for Kentucky during the 2024-25 campaign, connecting on 43% of his three-point attempts while also contributing in more physical areas of the game. But Brea hadn’t competed at the Power 5 level before arriving at Kentucky. Momcilovic has, and he’s already thriving.
Valuable Big 12 Experience
Last season, playing for an Iowa State team that finished fifth in the Big 12 and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Momcilovic recorded 23 games with at least three made threes. On four separate occasions, he knocked down eight three-pointers in a single game. Eight. Four times.
He finished the year averaging 16.9 points per game while shooting 50.6% from the field and an extraordinary 48.7% from beyond the arc. That’s nothing short of spectacular.
Three-point shooting has become the great equalizer in college basketball, and in my view, it’s turning into a true game-changer. Kentucky now has that difference-maker in Momcilovic. Last season, he had only five games where he didn’t make multiple threes. He’s the kind of player who can single-handedly spark a momentum shift.
At 6-foot-8, Momcilovic also serves as a potent floor-spacer. In a system that lives and dies by the three-ball evidenced by Mark Pope’s aim to launch 30+ three-pointers per game there will be a larger margin for error. Momcilovic will certainly help meet that target, and in doing so, he should elevate the playmakers around him.
Kentucky’s Long-Range Specialist
Last year, even with Chandler, Kentucky lacked a proven, game-changing three-point shooter at least not a consistent one. Pope had players with perimeter potential, streaky shooters capable of getting hot, but this season is different. Kentucky now has its long-ball ace in Milan Momcilovic.
And as a direct result, this roster is stronger than last year’s. Momcilovic raises the ceiling for Pope’s third-year squad; he’s the centerpiece of a roster that had previously been built on the hope that someone of his caliber would pull it all together.
Now, the BBN finally gets what might be its first real glimpse of Mark Pope’s full offensive vision. Personally, I can’t wait to see what these Cats will do.
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